The consensus is that the right-hander is so accomplished
he can reach the majors quickly and be a No. 2- or 3-caliber starter.

"We still look at him as a couple of years away," general
manager Dave Littlefield said.

Bullington says he has no apprehensions, "but I'll have
a bull's-eye on my back."

The Pirates are desperate for pitching. "We were after
him from the beginning," Littlefield said.

Bullington throws two types of fastballs up to 96 mph;
one sinks, one rises. He uses a hard slider as his out pitch and mixes in a
curve.

Reds seal the deal: Hours after the Cincinnati Reds
chose high school pitcher Chris Gruler No. 3 overall, they signed him for a
$2.5 million bonus.

The 18-year-old right-hander from Brentwood, Calif., wanted
to play baseball rather than go to college, the key reason the Reds made him
their top pick.

Last year the Reds' first pick was left-hander Jeremy Sowers,
even though he had warned clubs he intended to go to Vanderbilt unless he got
at least $3 million. The Reds offered less than half what Sowers sought. He
went to Vanderbilt. The Reds lost their right to sign him.

North stars: Left-hander Adam Loewen of Surrey,
British Columbia, was taken fourth overall by Baltimore. He's the highest pick
ever from Canada. Left-hander Jeff Francis of the University of British Columbia
was picked ninth by Colorado.

At home: For the third year in a row, Atlanta took
a local first  Lilburn, Ga., outfielder Jeff Francoeur. Atlanta also picked
Auburn infielder Jonathan Schuerholz, the son of Braves general manager John
Schuerholz, in the eighth round.